Mage Bane (Arcanist/Slayer)

Many choose to study the magical arts to empower themselves or those around them, attempting to gain power few mortals could comprehend. There are also those who wish to see magic abashed and resist it purely through their own force of will. The mage bane combines these two aspects into one, instead studying magic to gain better understanding of the power that can so easily be abused, and to rectify any who dare misuse it. (Original Concept by Bandw2)

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The mage bane selects six slayer skills to add to her class skills, in addition to the normal arcanist class skills. The mage bane gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The mage bane is proficient with all simple and martial weapons. She is also proficient with light armor. She can cast sorcerer/wizard spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. Like any other arcane spellcaster, a mage bane wearing medium armor, heavy armor, or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component. A multiclass mage bane still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.

Spellcasting: A mage bane casts arcane spells drawn from the sorcerer/wizard spell list. A mage bane can only cast a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. Her base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Mage bane under “Spells per Day.” In addition, she receives bonus spells per day if she has a high Intelligence score. A mage bane otherwise learns, prepares, and casts spell as an arcanist equal to her mage bane level.

Counterspell (Su): At 1st level, a mage bane gains the arcanist’s counterspell exploit. Whenever the mage bane makes a successful counterspell attempt (with the counterspell exploit or by normal counterspelling means), she regains 1 arcane reservoir point from the energy she absorbs from the countered spell. In the case of her counterspell ability, the initial arcane reservoir point is not expended. Her arcane reservoir points cannot exceed its normal daily total. Any extra points are lost. If the counterspell ability fails, she still expends her initial arcane reservoir point. This ability replaces the arcanist exploit gained at 1st level.

Arcane Exploits: This is exactly like the arcanist ability of the same name. Whenever the mage bane could choose an arcanist exploit, she can select a slayer talent that she qualifies for instead. In addition, the mage bane can choose the following new exploit restricted to the Mage Bane multiclass archetype.

Counter Assault (Su): Whenever the mage bane successfully uses her counterspell ability against a studied target, she can make an arcane assault attack against that target without expending an arcane reservoir point. If the arcane assault attack is successful, she can choose one of the following effects:

deal minimum arcane assault damage and regain a number of arcane reservoir points equal to half the level of the countered spell (minimum 1). If the absorbed spell energy exceeds her maximum number of arcane reservoir points, the extra points are lost as normal.

deal normal arcane assault damage, plus 1 point of extra damage per level of the spell countered. This extra damage increases to 2 points per level of the countered spell at 10th level.

This arcane assault attack must be made within 3 rounds of a successful counterspell attempt.

Studied Target (Ex): At 2nd level, a mage bane gains the slayer’s studied target ability and can maintain its affects against only one target. At 10th and 18th level, he can maintain this ability against one additional target at the same time.

Arcane Assault (Su): At 4th level, whenever a mage bane uses his studied target ability against a spellcaster (including arcane and divine spellcasters, or creatures with spell-like abilities), he can spend 1 point from his arcane reservoir to make a single melee or ranged attack as a standard action. If the attack hits, the mage bane deals extra damage. This additional damage is 1d6 at 4th level, and increases by 1d6 every 3 levels thereafter, to a maximum of +6d6 at 19th level. Should the slayer score a critical hit with an arcane assault attack, this additional damage is not multiplied. Ranged attacks can count as arcane assault attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. This damage is precision damage. Any creature immune to precision damage is likewise immune to this ability.

At 5th level, the mage bane’s weapon is treated as magic for the purpose of bypassing damage reduction when the attack is made. At 9th, it is treated as cold iron and silver. At 17th level, it is treated as adamantine.

In addition, the mage bane is also treated as having the Disruptive combat feat until the start of his next turn, once the attack is made.

Enhance Counterspell (Su): At 6th level, a mage bane can expend 1 additional point from her arcane reservoir as part of her counterspell ability to counter a spell one level higher than the level of the spell expended. For example, if a mage bane wants to counter a 2nd level spell, she must spend 1 point from her arcane reservoir and expend a spell of 3rd level or higher. If the mage bane chooses to enhance her counterspell by expending an additional point from his arcane reservoir, she can counter a 3rd level spell instead of a 2nd level spell.

For every six levels beyond 6th, the level of spell a mage bane can counter when using his counterspell ability increases by 1, up to a maximum of 3 at 18th level. The mage bane must expend a number of additional points from his arcane reservoir equal to the increase in spell level he is attempting to counter. Thus, an 18th level mage bane must expend 1 point from his arcane reservoir to use greater counterspell, expend a 6th–level spell, and spend 3 additional points from his arcane reservoir to increase the equivalent spell level by 3 to counter a 9th–level spell.

If the mage bane makes a successful counterspell attempt while using her enhanced counterspell ability, she gains 1 arcane reservoir point, but any additional points are still expended. Her arcane reservoir points cannot exceed its normal total. Any extra points are lost, as normal. If the counterspell fails, the initial point is expended, in addition to any additional points used to counter a higher level spell.

Medium Armor (Ex): At 8th level, a mage bane gains proficiency with medium armor. A mage bane can cast sorcerer/wizard spells while wearing medium armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. Like any other arcane spellcaster, a mage bane wearing heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component.

Slayer’s Advance (Ex): At 16th level, a mage bane gains the slayer’s advance ability, but can only use this ability once per day.

Counterspell Supremacy (Su): At 20th level, a mage bane becomes a master at counterspelling. Whenever the mage bane uses her counterspell ability, she no longer needs to expend an arcane reservoir point, whether the attempt is successful or not. On a successful counterspell attamept, (with the counterspell exploit or by normal counterspelling means), she gains 2 arcane reservoir points instead of 1. If the absorbed spell energy exceeds her maximum number of arcane reservoir points, the extra points are lost as normal. If the counterspell fails, any additional points (such as those from the enhanced counterspell ability) are still expended.

If the mage bane has the counter assault exploit and chooses to deal minimum arcane assault damage, she regains a number of arcane reservoir points equal to the level of the countered spell (minimum 1). If she chooses to deal normal arcane assault damage, she deals extra damage equal to 3 per level of the countered spell.

In addition, the mage bane gains a +4 bonus to all Spellcraft skill checks made to identify a spells as it is being cast. This ability replaces magical supremacy.